The Test of Our Word

“Sometimes we need the knowledge of the Father… Sometimes we need the hug of the Father… Sometimes we need the discipline of the Father… We need verity…

Our word has got to mean something…

If we’re believers our word must be our bond…

God will only call you to do what reflects His character… Keeping our word reflects the character of God… because He kept His word…

Let us not allow our trials to tempt us to break our word, or to use God’s name in flippant ways… “I swear to God that…”

God desires that our word would be true and our vows would be wise and not rash…

The difference between the heart of the law and letter of the law… We’re trying to avoid breaking the letter of the law so we just avoid ever saying “yes” or “no” on anything and live a soft uncommitted life… the heart of the law will have the courage to say “yes” or “no” but simply be thoughtful about it…

If you read the whole of the Bible you’ll see that oaths aren’t abolished, only that they are to be rare and meaningful…

Joshua’s vow was an uncommon moment within history that was directed by God and brought honor to Him… Vow’s and oaths must not be common within our lives… but the simplicity of a ‘Yes’ and a ‘No’ must be what is common…

Our words ought to be “simple, sacred and true…” and if we can live by that, the level of trust will sky rocket within our lives… and our gospel witness will curry greater weight…

The first lesson of the Christian life is be true (confession), the second is be true (live truth), the third is be true (speak truth)…

May our word reflect God’s word, just as God’s word is sure may our word be sure…”

Extra Notes:
So God desires that our word would be true and our vows would be wise and not rash…
• Judges 11 Jephthah’s Tragic Vow, put his daughter to death…
• 1 Samuel 14 (Saul’s rash vow concerning fasting…)
• Mark 6 Herod’s rash vow cost John the Baptist his life…
• Swearing on your dead grandma that isn’t dead… like kids on a playground “I swear to God that…”

A big part of being a person of our word is not being rash in what we say and pledge ourselves to…
• Don’t promise what you cannot fulfill…
• Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.
• Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
It’s best if we are simply people of our word… God’s name is not to be used in a trivial way…

But the bible does give some guidelines for taking oaths, and in rare occasions, encourages us to do so:

Numbers 30 deals extensively with vows… the idea is that we’re to be true to our word, and if we are not, there is a price… as well it had protections against rash vows or ignorant vows…

If we look at the whole of the Bible scripture is not forbidding solemn oaths, if used sparingly and rightly vow are seen as an act of worship…
• To make a proper oath biblically it is to: call upon God to take notice, and to ratify, some particular statement, showing our confidence in Christ. Prophet and Apostles did this in their messages… But this wasn’t meant for common use…

Elijah
1 Kings 17:1 Now Elijah… said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”
• This oath was a product of great prayer (as James 5:17 tells us)…

Paul
Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you.

Joshua
Joshua 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Jesus
Matthew 26:63-64 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
• The high priest is dramatically calling upon Jesus to take an oath by God… legally to not answer would have been a denial of His Lordship… so though it was under duress He did consent to an oath…

These were all uncommon moments within history that were directed by God and brought honor to Him… Vow’s and oaths must not be common within our lives… but the simplicity of a ‘Yes’ and a ‘No’ must be…
• Let us not be flippant taking God’s name or sacred things as a guarantee of our truthfulness… let our word truly be our bond…

• Our words ought to be “simple, sacred and true…” and if we can live by that, the level of trust will sky rocket within our lives…

• Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

The reward of having a good word in this life is great… builds trust… outsiders will see the character of God within us (draw people to Jesus)… honest mechanics… etc…

But the price for not being a person of our word is steep…
Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

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